Uni hall staff job loss fears

KEY hall staff at The University of Reading could lose their jobs as part of a shake-up of campus

accommodation, according to a student leader.

Reading Students’ Union (RSU) says a review of the halls will mean some porters will be out of work, while the role of wardens is set to change.

RUSU president Matt Weller thinks the move will give students a better deal but said some porters could be for the chop.

He said: “Some porters will lose their jobs... they are still working out the exact terms of contracts for the wardens.”

University spokeswoman Sue Rayner stressed yesterday: “The arrangements for porters are still under consideration.”

She also said wardens – academics who live in halls – will in future only deal with the welfare of the students instead of operational matters, which will be handed over to “residential managers”.

The halls at Whiteknights are being divided into five ‘clusters’ from August and will be run as groups instead of individually. As part of the restructuring Mr Weller said porters will become “building attendants” – a step he hopes won’t damage their role in hall life.

He said: “I am not exactly sure what porters are supposed to do but they know all the students and know exactly what is going on all the time. They are sometimes the first to pick up on welfare issues.

“I really hope they will still have at least one porter per hall. If there is just one per cluster it will be difficult.”

Wardens are not paid but get free accommodation and their department is given £2,000 to make up for the time they spend working on hall matters.

One warden, who did not want to be named, said: “Everything is up for negotiation. I could be out on the streets, we just don’t know. There is terrible morale and some porters have declined to reapply for their jobs.

“There hasn’t been a carefully worked out plan. Halls could turn into hostels.”

University spokeswoman Ms Rayner said: “In implementing the residential review there have been a small number of redundancies following full and open consultation with the recognised